What are the Problems?
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Degradation of Cemetery's Purpose
Exploitation of the Deceased for Personal Profit Non-historic and Macabre Filming Non-historic and Macabre Tour Narratives Unregulated, Aggressive Tour Guides and Vendors Vandalism and Desecration of Tombs Harassment of Families Overcrowding and Overtourism Damage to Historic and Fragile Infrastructure Repair and Maintenance Needs |
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Hover over the pictures in each section below to see their individual captions. Click on photo to view in larger size.
Non-historic and Macabre Filming:
Filming exploits and degrades the cemetery's purpose,
drawing large, non-historical tours to its locations long after the film or TV show has come and gone.
Both the actual filming and the decades of ghoulish tours and tourist abuse it feeds
severely harm the cemetery's purpose and damage its fragile infrastructure.
drawing large, non-historical tours to its locations long after the film or TV show has come and gone.
Both the actual filming and the decades of ghoulish tours and tourist abuse it feeds
severely harm the cemetery's purpose and damage its fragile infrastructure.
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Disrespectful, Copy-cat Behavior:
Filming and non-historical tours feed copy-cat behavior, mocking the deceased and further damaging fragile tombs and copings.
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Intrusive, Aggresive Tours with Macabre Narratives:
Tour Guides in costume frequently stand on copings shouting spiels about ghosts, vampires, voodoo and horror movie scenes.
They surround families trying to visit loved ones' graves and often include the bereaved as props in their narratives.
Entertainment and profit motives threaten the cemetery's sacred purpose as a resting place for the deceased.
They surround families trying to visit loved ones' graves and often include the bereaved as props in their narratives.
Entertainment and profit motives threaten the cemetery's sacred purpose as a resting place for the deceased.
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Vandalism and Desecration:
Vandalism and desecration of tombs plague Lafayette No. 1.
Films, haunted tours, non-historical narratives and a lack of any oversight or enforcement embolden disrespect.
Films, haunted tours, non-historical narratives and a lack of any oversight or enforcement embolden disrespect.
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Overcrowding and Overtourism:
Visitors exponentially increased in recent years from about 200 to almost 3,000 per day.
Overcrowding and no security or supervision of visitors lead to more damage of fragile infrastructure.
The couple in the photo above continued to nonchalantly tour Lafayette No. 1 after shattering the tablet shown in the section above. Only the quick thinking of a nearby witness documented this particular incident. More often than not, the damage is unreported.
Overcrowding and no security or supervision of visitors lead to more damage of fragile infrastructure.
The couple in the photo above continued to nonchalantly tour Lafayette No. 1 after shattering the tablet shown in the section above. Only the quick thinking of a nearby witness documented this particular incident. More often than not, the damage is unreported.
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Repair and Maintenance Needs:
Serious repair and maintenance needs are evident throughout the cemetery.
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What are the Solutions?
Meeting with City Department Directors
Meeting with City Council Members
Presenting before Community Development Committee and Entire City Council
Participating in City Hall Initiative to Fix Systemic Problems
Advocating for Adequate Regulations, Enforcement, Maintenance and Security
Meeting with City Council Members
Presenting before Community Development Committee and Entire City Council
Participating in City Hall Initiative to Fix Systemic Problems
Advocating for Adequate Regulations, Enforcement, Maintenance and Security
What are the Goals?
A place for our loved ones to rest in peace
A place for families and guests to visit in peace
Protection and dignity for those buried here
Accurate portrayal of history
Proper protection and maintenance of historic site
A place for families and guests to visit in peace
Protection and dignity for those buried here
Accurate portrayal of history
Proper protection and maintenance of historic site
Restoring Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 to its sole purpose as a cemetery,
a sacred place for the deceased to rest in peace.
a sacred place for the deceased to rest in peace.
Photos property of Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 Tomb and Coping Owners Association unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2019-2025
Copyright © 2019-2025